Method and apparatus for automatically cutting food products to predetermined weight or shape

ABSTRACT

Food products, such as fish fillets, chicken fillets, and many others, are cut to predetermined portion sizes of equal weight and volume, or to predetermined profile shapes, by moving the food products on a conveyor, scanning them as they move through a shadow line with a camera capable of providing a programmed computer with dimensional data, and utilizing the computer to control the operation of a plurality of high pressure water jet cutters to cut the food products to reduced sizes as dictated by the computer program.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the commercial processing of food products,and more particularly to the automatic cutting of fish fillets and otherfood products to predetermined portion weights or profile shapes.

Commercial production of fish fillets of predetermined portion weightsheretofore has been afforded by the method and apparatus disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 4,557,019. This method and apparatus involves theintermittent scanning of fish fillets as they move along a conveyor todetermine the weights of a plurality of longitudinally adjacent thinslices of each fillet and the number of such slices required to producethe desired portion weight, and then activating a cutter to movetransversely across the conveyor to cut the fillet along lines whichcorrespond to the number of slices in each fillet portion, to produce aplurality of portions of equal weight and volume.

Although the above described method and apparatus is satisfactory forlimited commercial production, it is incapable of a production levelnecessary to keep up with present day food assembly and packagingoperations. Further, it is incapable of producing fish fillets and otherfood products of predetermined profile shapes, such as are desirable inthe packaging of sandwiches, frozen dinners and other foods.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In its basic concept, the method and apparatus of this inventioninvolves the scanning of fish or chicken fillets or other food productsas each moves along a conveyor, to determine the plan and/or thicknessprofiles of the product, and activating one or more cutters to cut theproduct to predetermined profile shapes or portion weights.

It is by virtue of the foregoing basic concept that the principalobjective of this invention is achieved; namely, to overcome theaforementioned limitations of U.S. Pat. No. 4,557,019. Specifically, themethod and apparatus of this invention provide the followingimprovements over the method and apparatus disclosed in said patent:

The present invention provides increased commercial production of cutfood products by providing faster cutting and by cutting completelythrough the food product on the conveyor line.

Increased commercial production also is achieved by allowing foodproducts to be placed upon the infeed end of the processing conveyorrandomly at diverse angles relative to the line of conveyor movement,thereby allowing more rapid delivery and deposit of food product on theconveyor.

Increased commercial production also is achieved by allowing the depositof food product at the infeed end of the conveyor in a plurality oflaterally spaced production lanes on the single conveyor, forsimultaneous processing.

The method and apparatus of this invention also enable the cutting offood products to any desired profile shape, independently of weight orwhile maintaining a predetermined weight.

The method and apparatus of this invention also accommodate the removalof undesirable areas of a product, such as the strips of fat and bloodspots extending into fish fillets and the peripheral fat of chickenbreasts and other meats.

The method and apparatus of this invention provide for the cutting offood products to diverse profile shapes by the controlled movement of aline-type cutter transversely across the conveyor at various speeds anddirection to effect cutting the food products along longitudinallyextending profiling lines during movement on the conveyor.

The method and appartus of this invention utilize line-type cutters suchas a laser or, preferably, a high pressure water jet, mounted to bemoved very quickly or at slower, variable speeds transversely across theconveyor. Use of high pressure water jet cutting ensures retention ofthe product in position on the conveyor and consequent accuracy ofcutting; it minimizes kerf loss; and precludes spoilage of product whichcan result from cutting with a metal saw or other cutter.

Further, the line-type cutters utilized in the method and apparatus ofthis invention are mounted for adjustment transversely across theconveyor to fixed positions for cutting food product as it moves on theconveyor, thereby achieving cutting at the rate of speed of the conveyorrather than the faster rate of speed of the cutter per se, therebyenabling the cutting of frozen food as well as other dense and fibrousproducts.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of this invention willappear from the following detailed description, taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings of preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the infeed end portion of food cuttingapparatus embodying the features of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation as viewed from the bottom in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the outfeed end portion of the apparatus ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation as viewed from the bottom in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 5--5 in FIG.2.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line 6--6 inFIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 7--7 in FIG.4.

FIGS. 8-13 are plan views illustrating schematically the stages ofcutting of a fish fillet by operation of the apparatus of FIGS. 1-7 toproduce a plurality of pieces having shapes and weights withinprescribed limits.

FIG. 14 is a plan view of a second embodiment of food cutting apparatusembodying the features of this invention.

FIG. 15 is a side elevation as viewed from the bottom in FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on the line 16--16 inFIG. 15.

FIGS. 17-20 are plan views illustrating schematically the stages ofcutting of a fish fillet by operation of the apparatus of FIGS. 14-16 toremove a central strip of fat from a fish fillet and then cut theremainder to produce a plurality of pieces of predetermined size orweight.

FIGS. 21-24 are plan views illustrating schematically the stages ofcutting a chicken breast by operation of the apparatus of FIGS. 14-16 toremove peripheral areas and produce a pair of chicken fillet segments ofdesired profile shapes.

FIG. 25 is a plan view illustrating schematically the operation ofeither the apparatus of FIGS. 1-7 or of FIGS. 14-16 to cut fish filletsto predetermined widths and/or portion weights by arranging the infeedfillets crosswise on the conveyor and adjusting a pair of cutterslaterally to different fixed positions for cutting each succeedingfillet as the fillets move on the conveyor.

FIG. 26 is a plan view illustrating schematically the operation ofeither the apparatus of FIGS. 1-7 or of FIGS. 14-16 to cut a product ofoval profile into a plurality of curved portions of similar shape.

FIG. 27 is a fragmentary side elevation of an alternative form ofconveyor section associated with the water jet cutters of FIG. 15.

FIGS. 28 and 29 are fragmentary end elevations showing schematically anadjustable support for a plurality of laterally spaced adjustable linetype cutters for use in producing multiple products such as illustratedin FIG. 26.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring first to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-7, thecomponents of the apparatus are supported on a framework 10 ofhorizontal and vertical frame members. The infeed end portion of theapparatus includes an endless infeed conveyor belt 12 supported at itsrear, infeed end on a transverse idler roll 20, and thence rearward tothe rear, infeed roll 14. The upper, working stretch of the infeed beltextends forwardly to a small diameter forward nose bar 16, thencedownward and rearward about an enlarged drive roll 18, forward around abelt tightener roll 14. A first intermediate conveyor belt 22 extendsforwardly from the infeed belt 12. Its rearward ends is supported bysmall nose bar 24 spaced closely adjacent the small forward nose bar 16to provide a narrow gap 26 therebetween for operation of a cuttercomponent to be described hereinafter. The upper working stretch of theintermediate conveyor belt 22 extends forwardly to another smalldiameter nose bar 28, thence angularly downward and rearward about adrive roll 30, forward around a belt tightener roll 32 and thencerearward to the first named small nose bar 24.

A second intermediate conveyor belt 34 extends forwardly from the firstintermediate conveyor belt 22. Its rearward end is supported by a smalldiameter nose bar 36 spaced closely adjacent the small forward nose bar28 of the first intermediate conveyor belt 22, providing a smalltransverse gap 38 therebetween for the operation of a profiling cuttercomponent described hereinafter. The upper working stretch of the secondintermediate conveyor belt 34 extends forwardly to a small diameter nosebar 40, thence angularly downward and rearward around a drive roll 42,rearward around a belt tightening roll 44 and thence rearward to therear support nose bar 36.

A third intermediate conveyor belt 46 extends forwardly from the secondintermediate conveyor belt 34. Its upper working stretch extends betweena small diameter rearward nose bar 48 and a small diameter forward nosebar 50. The belt extends angularly downward and rearward from theforward nose bar, over a small belt tightener roll 52, thence downwardunder a drive roll 54 and upward over a second belt tightener roll 56,thence rearward to the rear nose bar 48. This rearward nose bar isspaced forwardly closely adjacent the forward nose bar 40 of the secondintermediate conveyor belt 34, providing a narrow transverse gap 58 foroperation of a cutter component to be described hereinafter.

An outfeed conveyor belt 60 extends forwardly of the third intermediateconveyor belt 46. Its rearward end is supported by a small diameter nosebar 62 spaced forwardly closely adjacent the small forward nose bar 50of the third intermediate conveyor belt, to provide a narrow transversegap 64 therebetween for operation of still another cutter component tobe described hereinafter. The upper working stretch of the outfeedconveyor extends forwardly around a forward drive roll 66 and thencerearward to the small rearward nose bar 62.

The drive rolls are mounted for rotation with drive shafts 68 supportedby and extending transversely of the framework 10. The drive shafts areinterconnected for simultaneous rotation by any conventional means, suchas sprockets and interconnecting chains coupled to a common electricdrive motor. The arrangement of drive sprockets is such that all of theconveyor belts are moved in the forward, outfeed direction at a uniformrate of speed.

Adjacent the infeed end of the infeed conveyor 12, the frameworksupports a housing 70 which extends upwardly from the conveyor belt andconfines therein a camera 72 mounted on a support 74 and disposedangularly with respect to the working surface of the conveyor belt. Thehousing is partitioned by a vertical wall 76 to form a light chamber 78.A transverse wall 80 in the light chamber supports a plurality of lightsources 82 spaced apart transversely with respect to the conveyor belt.

The bottom wall of the light chamber 78 is formed with a transverse slot84 for the passage of light. The leading edge 86' of the transverse beamof light, with respect to the direction of movement of the conveyorbelt, defines a sharp shadow line 86 (FIG. 8) that extends transverselyacross the conveyor belt, since the area forwardly of the light beam isdark.

It will be understood that the transverse shadow line 86 will be astraight line across the conveyor belt 12 when no food productintercepts the shadow line. However, as illustrated in FIG. 8 of thedrawings, when a fillet or other food product on the conveyor beltpasses across the shadow line, the upper, irregular surface of the foodproduct produces an irregular shadow line, as viewed from the angularlydisposed camera. A large number of points along the irregular shadowline detected by the camera and computer system are offset from thepositions they occupy when the food product is not present, and thedisplacement represents the thickness of the food product at eachspecific point. The shadow line is provided by a very simple,trouble-free and inexpensive structural arrangement.

Openings 88 and 90 in the bottom portion of the upstream and downstreamsides of the housing 70 allow the passage of food product on theconveyor through the housing. The opening 88 in the upstream wall of thehousing is shielded by a rearwardly extending cover 92 the upstream endof which is open and is covered by a cloth or other flexible screen 94.This screen allows the passage of food product on the conveyor beltwhile minimizing the entrance of ambient light into the housing. Theshadow line 86 thus is maintained at maximum contrast.

The camera is a conventional video camera that functions with computer96 to convert the shadow (line) configuration to electric signals whichrepresent the width and thickness dimensions of the product. The lengthof the product is determined by the sum of the number of longitudinallyadjacent segments of the product that are counted as thickness contoursby encoder pulses generated at time intervals corresponding to apredetermined forward movement of the conveyor, e.g. every one-fifth ofan inch. For this purpose, an encoder 95 is driven by shaft 68 through asprocket and chain drive assembly. These electric signals representingthe width, height and/or number of thickness contours are utilized tooperate computer 96 in accordance with a desired computer program toeffect program-designated movements of the cutters to effect cross cutsor profile cuts.

A preferred form of camera 71 is available commercially as video cameraModel No. TM 240T from Pulnix America, Inc. for use with a wide varietyof computer systems.

The food product scanned by the camera at the shadow line progressesdownstream and transfers from the outfeed end of the infeed conveyor 12to the upstream end of the first intermediate conveyor 22. As the foodproduct moves across the narrow transverse gap 26 between the conveyors,leading and trailing end portions of the food product may be cut, ifdesired, as illustrated in FIG. 9. This is achieved by operation of acutter that moves through the transverse gap 26 at a sufficiently highrate of speed as to produce a cut in the food product substantiallyperpendicular to the direction of movement of the conveyor.

In accordance with this invention, the cutter is of the line-type, i.e.a cutter that provides a cutting edge in the form of a substantiallyvertical line through the gap 26. Thus, a line-type cutter may be alaser beam cutter. Alternatively, it may be a fluid pressure cutteremploying oils or other liquids, or air or other gas under highpressure.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the line-type cutter is a highpressure water jet that is delivered through a tiny jeweled orifice 98of preselected size from a water pressure intensifier capable ofproviding water pressure of about 10,000 to 60,000 pounds per squareinch for most food products. It will be understood that the waterpressure may be varied over a greater range, as required.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the water jet orifice 98 is supportedby a carriage 100 mounted for transverse movement through a housing 102preferably supported independently of the framework 10 to isolatecarriage vibrations from the framework and camera 72. The carriage isconnected to the outer end of a piston rod 104 the piston of which isreciprocated within an elongated fluid pressure cylinder 106 mounted onthe framework. Although hydraulic fluid may be utilized as the source ofpower, pneumatic pressure is preferred for the fluid pressurepiston-cylinder unit. Operation of the piston-cylinder unit is effectedby an electrically actuated valve 108 which is controlled by computer96. Electric servo motors also may be employed as a source of power.

The high pressure water jet that passes through the gap 26 between theconveyors is collected in a reservoir 110 and returned through a conduit112 either to waste or to a reservoir coupled to the initial stage ofwater pressurization.

It has been found that transverse movement of the cross-cut cutter 98 ofup to about 300 feet per minute, with a conveyor speed of about 50 feetper minute, produces satisfactory transverse cuts through many foodproducts. This is a distinct advantage over the rotating disc cutterarrangements described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,557,019, since the disc cuttermust be mounted for transverse movement on a frame disposed at anoblique angle with respect to the line of movement of the conveyor, tocompensate for the movement of the food product on the conveyor duringthe relatively slow traverse of the disc cutter.

Another advantage of the line-type cutter employed in the presentinvention over the disc cutter of the patent aforesaid resides in theability of the line-type cutter to operate in both directions oftransverse movement. In contrast, the disc cutter of the patent isoperable only in one transverse direction of movement across theconveyor and then must be raised vertically out of the path of travel ofthe food product for return to the starting position for the next cut.

Thus, referring to FIG. 9 of the drawings, the leading portion of theillustrated fillet is cut along line 114 by movement of the line-typecutter 98 in one direction through the gap 26 transversely across theconveyor line, and the trailing portion of the fillet is cut along theline 116 by movement of the cutter in the opposite direction. Moreover,the speed of movement of the cutter relative to the speed of forwardmovement of the conveyor line is such that if desired the fillet may becut transversely into a substantial number of small portions. Forexample, a cut 116' may be made to produce a trailing tail portion ofpredetermined weight and volume.

Means is provided for removing the severed leading and trailing endportions of the food product as it moves along the first intermediateconveyor 22. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, an elongated hollowrodless cylinder 118 extends transversely above the conveyor belt and issupported at its opposite ends by mountings 120 secured to the framework10. A piston within the cylinder is provided with a stem 122 (FIG. 5)that extends downwardly through a longitudinal slot in the cylinder andmounts at its bottom exposed end a sweeper member 124 that is movabletransversely across the conveyor belt by air pressure suppliedselectively to one end or the other of the cylinder, through airconduits 126. The sweeper member is provided with oppositely facingsurfaces configured to engage severed portions of food products andsweep them transversely off of the sides of the conveyor 22 and intodischarge chutes 128 for collection by suitable means. Such discardedend pieces may be processed for conversion to animal feed or othersuitable by-products.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings, the trimmed fillet ofFIG. 9 moves forwardly on the first intermediate conveyor 22, and as itpasses across the narrow gap 38 between the first and secondintermediate conveyors 22 and 34, respectively, it is subjected to thecutting action of a line-type profile cutter 130 which functions to cutthe food product longitudinally between leading and trailing "landmark"points into two lateral pieces, as illustrated in FIG. 10. In theembodiment illustrated, the line-type cutter is of the high pressurewater jet type previously described. However, the fluid pressure drivepiston-cylinder unit 132 for the carriage 100 is operated by anelectrically actuated valve 134 and encoder (not shown) under thecontrol of the programmed computer. The encoder identifies for thecomputer the exact position of extension of the piston rod and hence theexact position of the cutter orifice 130 and high pressure water jetrelative to the food product being cut.

Accordingly, the food product having previously been scanned by thecamera 72 and its profile shape having been extracted by the computer96, the computer then may direct initial positioning of the highpressure water jet orifice laterally of the conveyor belt to interceptthe leading end of the fillet (FIG. 10) at the "landmark" point desiredfor initiating the longitudinal cut 136 through the food product.

Moreover, since the position of the food product on the conveyor hasbeen established by the scanning camera and the computer program hasdefined the "landmark" point on the trailing end of the food product atwhich the longitudinal cut is to terminate, the computer thus activatesthe control valve 134 to move the carriage 100 and hence the water jetorifice 130 transversely at a controlled rate of speed to effect thelongitudinal cutting of the food product on the line 136 extendingbetween the leading and trailing "landmark" end points.

Since the longitudinal pieces may be of different size, weight andshape, it is desirable to further process each piece independently ofthe other. Accordingly, the two longitudinal pieces are caused to beseparated laterally for subsequent individual processing. For thispurpose an elongated flexible ribbon 138 of synthetic thermoplasticresin or other suitable material is connected at one end to the waterjet orifice 130 for transverse movement therewith. The opposite endportion of the ribbon encircles plow member 140 which is secured by apin 142 to a bar 144 which extends transversely across and above theconveyor belt 34. The bar is supported at its opposite ends by brackets146 mounted on the framework 10. The point 142 of attachment of the plow140 to the transverse bar 144 preferably is at the longitudinalcenterline of the conveyor belt. The side walls of the plow diverge fromits trailing end symmetrically about the attachment point 142 to alateral dimension corresponding to the desired lateral spacing of thetwo longitudinal pieces of the food product, as illustrated in FIG. 11.

Referring to FIG. 6 of the drawings, it is to be noted that the flexibleribbon 138 allows the water jet orifice 130 to be moved laterally acrossthe conveyor belt as needed to effect the longitudinal cut 136 throughthe food product. The lateral pieces of the food product then are guidedby the ribbon to the central portion of the conveyor belt where they areseparated by the plow 140.

The separated pieces of the food product then progress forward on thebelt 34 to a second scanning system (FIGS. 3 and 4). Since this scanningsystem is substantially identical to the scanning system firstdescribed, the components thereof are identified by the same referencenumerals. In this regard, although this second scanning system is shownto include two laterally spaced cameras 72 and 72' for scanning theseparated longitudinal pieces of the food product, it is to beunderstood that a single camera may be employed to scan both pieces andprovide the computer with the same information.

Let it be assumed, for purposes of this description, that with theinformation provided by the scanning cameras the computer determinesthat both lateral pieces of the food product need to be cuttransversely. The computer thereupon activates the valves 148 and 148'of the piston-cylinder units 150 and 150' of both laterally spaced highpressure water jet cross-cut cutters 152 and 152' (FIG. 7). Accordingly,their supporting carriages 100 are moved rapidly toward the centerlineof the conveyor belt 34, to effect transverse cutting of both foodproduct pieces along cut lines 154 and 154', as illustrated in FIG. 12.

Let it also be assumed, for the purpose of this description, that withthe information delivered to the computer by the scanning cameras thecomputer determines that the leading section of the upper piece of foodproduct on the conveyor belt is sufficiently large as to require furtherlongitudinal cutting into two lateral pieces. The computer thusactivates the valve 156' of the piston-cylinder unit 158 of the upperhigh pressure water jet profiling cutter 160' to move the cutterlaterally to the appropriate position for initiating the longitudinalcut at the leading end of the food product section. Thereafter thecutter 160' is moved slowly, as necessary, to effect the longitudinalcut 162 ending at the desired point at the trailing end of the foodproduct section, as illustrated in FIG. 13.

During the foregoing profiling operation, the companion profiling cutterorifice 160, its supporting carriage and piston-cylinder unit 158 andvalve 156 remain inactive, since the pieces of food product on the lowerhalf of the conveyor belt are not to be cut longitudinally.

It is to be noted in FIGS. 3, 4 and 7 that the final pair of highpressure water jet profiling cutters 160 and 160' are of the type thataccommodate selective turning on and off of the water jets, whereas thepreceding cutters operate with the water jets being on continuously.Control of the water jets of the profiling cutters is afforded bypneumatically controlled valves 164 and 164'. Air pressure for thevalves is supplied through conduits 166 and 166' in which a computercontrolled valve (not shown) governs the delivery of air pressure from asource. Pneumatically controlled valves of this type are availablecommercially.

Referring again to FIG. 13 of the drawings, the resulting five pieces offood product exit the apparatus on the outfeed conveyor 60, from whencethey are delivered for packaging or other further processing. The fivepieces are shown to be of different shapes and sizes, but each is withina preselected weight range.

Referring now to the second embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 14-16, theframe 10 is shown to support an infeed conveyor 12 as in the firstembodiment described. Two additional guide rolls 168 and 170 areprovided for the return stretch of conveyor belt to make room for acandling light box 172 and lamp 174 discussed hereinafter. Associatedwith the infeed conveyor is a scanning camera 72 and light source 82 asin the first embodiment. In addition thereto, a second camera 176 ismounted in an adjacent housing 178 in vertical alignment with thecandling light source 174. For this purpose the conveyor belt 12 is ofthe translucent type to allow the light source on the underside of thebelt to shine through. The light source thus serves a candling functionto expose to the camera the areas of fat contained in fish fillets andother food products so that they may be removed as undesirable.

Downstream from the infeed conveyor 12 are two intermediate conveyors180 and 182 and an outfeed conveyor 184, all illustrated as being of thetype described hereinbefore as the third intermediate conveyor beltsupported by the small nose bars 48 and 50, belt tightener rolls 52 and56 and drive roll 54. As in the previous embodiment, the drive shafts 68for all of the conveyors are coupled together to a common drive motorfor simultaneous rotation to move all of the conveyor belts in theoutfeed direction at the same rate of speed.

Registering with the narrow transverse gaps 186 between adjacentconveyor belts are pairs of line-type cutters, herein shown to be of thehigh pressure water jet type. In the embodiment illustrated, there arethree pairs of such cutters. The upstream pair 188 and 188'and middlepair 190 and 190' are of the profiling cutter type, while the downstreampair 192, 192' are of the fast moving cross-cut type, as previouslydescribed. the upstream cutters 188 and 188' are moved bypiston-cylinder units 194 and 194' controlled by computer operatedvalves 196 and 196', respectively. Piston cylinder units 198 and 198'and control valves 200 and 200' are associated with middle cutters 190and 190', and piston-clinder units 202 and 202' and control valves 204and 204' are associated with downstream cutters 192 and 192'. In theembodiment illustrated, the middle cutters 190 and 190' are of the sametype as cutters 160 and 160'described hereinbefore as being controlledby pneumatic valves 164 and 164'.

A typical operation of the apparatus of FIGS. 14-16, utilizing thecandling component, is illustrated in FIGS. 17-20. FIG. 17 illustrates afish fillet in which a trailing central portion outlined by broken lines206 is a strip of fat which is desired to be removed. As the filletprogresses forwardly on the infeed conveyor 12, it is first scanned bythe first camera 72 and shadow line 86 described hereinbefore todetermine its overall profile and to supply that information to thecomputer 96. The fillet progresses forwardly across the candling lightsource 174 which exposes the outline of the strip of fat to the secondcamera 176. The size, shape and location of the fat strip thus isprovided to the computer which thereupon functions to control theoperation of the cutters, as follows:

First (FIG. 18), one of the profiling cutters 188 or 188' of theupstream pair is moved progressively at an appropriate slow speed toeffect the longitudinal cutting of the fillet along the line 208. As thefillet progresses forwardly, the middle profiling cutter 190 or 190' onthe same side of the conveyor belt as the previously operated upstreamcutter, is turned on by valve 164 or 164' at the inner end of the fatstrip at cut line 208, to make the cut along the line 210 (FIG. 19). Thestrip of fat thus is severed from the main body of the fillet which hasbeen separated into two longitudinal pieces.

As the severed pieces of the fillet progress forwardly, the downstreamcross-cut cutter 192 or 192' on the same side of the conveyor belt asthe preceding profiling cutters, is activated to move quickly across thecorresponding half of the conveyor line to produce the leadingtransverse cut 212 shown in FIG. 20 to remove the undesired tip sectionof the fillet. As the fillets progress forwardly, the same cross-cutcutter is once again activated to retrace its return path through thegap 186 to effect the trailing transverse cut 214 to remove theundesired trailing sections of the fillet.

The assembly of scrap and desired sections of the cut fillet exit theoutfeed conveyor 184 from whence the desired fillet sections areretrieved from the scrap pieces for subsequent packaging or otherprocessing. As before, the scrap pieces are further processed.

In the event the strip of fat is wider on the top of the fillet than onthe bottom, or vice versa, the profile cutters may be tilted angularlyin the lateral direction of the conveyor, to minimize the cutting awayof valuable food products.

The apparatus of FIGS. 14-16 also may be operated in an alternative modewhich need not involve the candling stage. An illustration is shown inFIGS. 21-24 wherein a chicken breast is to be cut to produce a pair ofsimilarly shaped segments of the same or different weights for the massproduction of sandwich cuts or other food articles.

Thus, the initial chicken breast progresses forwardly from the infeedend of the infeed conveyor 12 for scanning by the scanning camera 72 andshadow line 86 described hereinbefore, to provide information to thecomputer 96 as to the plan and elevation profiles of the chicken breast.The information having been delivered to the computer, the latteroperates one of the pair of upstream profiling cutters 188 or 188' tosever the chicken breast longitudinally along the desired line 216, asillustrated in FIG. 22. As the longitudinal severed chicken breastprogresses forwardly, the middle profiling cutter 190 or 190' on thesame side of the conveyor belt as the previously operated upstreamprofiling cutter, is activated to cut one longitudinal section of thesevered chicken breast along the curve line 218 illustrated in FIG. 23.As the sections progress still further forward, the downstream cutter192 or 192' on the same side of the conveyor belt as the precedingprofiling cutters is operated as a third profiling cutter to cut theother longitudinal section along the curved line 220 illustrated in FIG.24. The two similarly shaped segments are recovered for packaging whilethe external scraps are further processed to produce lesser valuedproducts.

In the event the initial chicken breast is determined to be too small toderive two segments, the computer may operate the cutters to recover asingle segment from the chicken breast.

It is to be noted that the downstream cutter is operated as a profilingcutter rather than a cross-cut cutter as previously described. For thispurpose, the downstream cutter pair may be of a type that is convertibleto either form, or they may be replaced with the desired type.

Some food products tend to fall into the gaps 186 between adjacentconveyors 180, 182 and 184 rather than be carried across the gaps to thenext succeeding conveyor section. To accommodate the apparatus to suchproducts the alternative form of conveyor ilustrated in FIG. 27 may beemployed to advantage. This conveyor is provided in the form of anendless strip of wire mesh 222. Its upstream end is supported by smalldiameter nose bar 224 which is spaced closely adjacent nose bar 16 ofthe infeed conveyor 12, forming the gap 186 for association with theupstream water jet cutters 188 and 188'. The terminal, downstream end ofthe wire mesh conveyor is supported by nose bar 226, with the workingstretch of the conveyor supported by a plurality of longitudinallyextending, laterally spaced backing plates 228. The return stretch ofthe wire mesh conveyor extends angularly downward from nose bar 224,under the idler roll 230, around drive sprocket 232 and tightener roll234 to the terminal idler roll 226.

Aligned with the middle water jet cutters 190 and 190' and thedownstream cutters 192 and 192' are water recovery reservoirs 236 whichfunction in the manner of reservoirs 110 described hereinbefore. Thesereservoirs receive the waste jet water through the wire mesh screen.

It will be understood that the wire mesh conveyor is usable for cuttingproducts that can be cut with water jet pressure that is low enough toprevent cutting or other damage to the wire mesh itself. Typical of suchusage is the profiling of chicken breast as discussed hereinbefore withreference to FIGS. 21-24.

FIG. 25 of the drawings illustrates still another mode of operation ofeither of the embodiments described hereinbefore. In the illustration, aplurality of fish fillets are shown to be deposited upon a conveyorbelt, such as 34, in the transverse direction. One pair of profilingcutters, for example 160 and 160' are adjusted to selected laterallyspaced positions and there maintained stationary while the leadingfillet is passed forwardly through the cutters to produce two filletsegments and a tip segment to be discarded. The two fillet segments thusproduced may be of the same or different weight or width. The twocutters then are shifted laterally as required for cutting the nextsucceeding fillet. This procedure is repeated as required for eachsucceeding fillet in the process line. Additional cutters may beemployed to produce more than two fillet segments from each fillet.

The mode of operation illustrated in FIG. 25 performs the cuttingoperation at the rate of speed of travel of the conveyor. Since this issubstantially slower than the rate of speed of the transverse cross-cutcutters, the mode accommodates the processing of frozen food productswhich require the slower speed of cutting.

FIG. 26 illustrates still another mode of operation of either of theembodiments previously described. The food product illustrated is ovalin profile with the leading and trailing ends truncated. By operationfirst of one pair of profiling cutters and then by a second pair ofprofiling cutters, the food product may be cut into elongated curvedstrips of similar shape.

FIGS. 28 and 29 illustrate schematically an arrangement by which aplurality of laterally spaced high pressure water jet or other line-typecutters may be supported for simultaneous adjustment of the spacingbetween them, to produce a plurality of cuts simultaneously, such, forexample, for cutting all of the curved strips of FIG. 26 simultaneously.Thus, a plurality of line-type cutters 238 are mounted in laterallyspaced apart relationship on a pair of vertically spaced bars 240 and242 as by pivot shafts 244 and 246. One end of each bar is securedpivotally to framework 10, as by pivots 248, and the opposite ends ofthe bars are interconnected by a link 250 through pivots 252 which arespaced apart the same distance as pivots 248.

The arrangement of bars, pivots and link thus form a pantograph systemby which angular adjustment of the bars effects changing the spacingbetween the line type cutters 238. Adjustment of the bar is afforded byconnection of the piston rod 254 of a fluid pressure piston-cylinderunit pivotally, as by pivot 256, to an extension 258 of one of the bars.The cylinder 260 of the unit is secured pivotally, as by pivot 262, tothe framework 10.

As illustrated, when the piston-cylinder unit is actuated to pivot thebars 240 and 242 clockwise from the position of FIG. 28 to the positionof FIG. 29, the spacing 264 between adjacent line type cutters isreduced. Computer control of the piston-cylinder unit may operate tovary the spacing between cutters continuously, for example to effectcutting the elongated curved strips of FIG. 26.

It is to be noted in the foregoing description of the operations of theapparatus embodiments of FIGS. 1-7 and 14-16, that the cuttingoperations performed downstream from the infeed conveyor utilized onlyone cutter of each pair located on the same side of the conveyor belt.Accordingly, it will be apparent that the provision of laterally spacedpairs of cutters accommodates the simultaneous processing of twoseparate laterally spaced production lanes on the same conveyor beltassembly, by arranging food products in two laterally spaced rows. Itwill also be apparent that additional processing lanes can beaccommodated by providing three or more laterally spaced cutters andutilizing a wider conveyor belt.

Accordingly, the method and apparatus of this invention is capable ofmuch greater production capacity over the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No.4,557,019 by virtue of much greater transverse cutting speeds in bothdirections of traverse while simultaneously increasing the speed oftravel of the conveyor belt nearly five fold, and also at least doublingthe capacity of the conveyor system by accommodating at least twoproduction lanes.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that many modifications andchanges in the structural details described hereinbefore may be made toaccommodate many variations in modes of operation. For example,additional cross cutting assemblies and additional profiling cuttingassemblies may be incorporated, as desired. A wide variety of computerprograms may be utilized to control the sequence of operation of thecomponents described herein, to accommodate the cutting of a widevariety of food products either to portions of the same weight andvolume, to the same shapes with the same or different weights, and to awide variety of profiles. The apparatus may also be operated to cut awide variety of materials to diverse shapes. Exemplary of these is thecutting of leather or other sheet material to the profile shapes ofgloves and other pattern articles. These and other modifications andchanges may be made, as desired, without departing from the spirit ofthis invention and the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:
 1. Apparatus for cutting food and like products to desiredreduced sizes, comprising:(a) a frame, (b) elongated conveyor means onthe frame for moving the product from an infeed end to an outfeed end,(c) means on the frame for determining the dimensions of product as itmoves on the conveyor means, and (d) at least one line-type cutter onthe frame movable transversely of the conveyor means and having acutting edge disposed on a line extending through the working stretch ofthe conveyor means for cutting products moving on the conveyor meansalong lines predetermined to reduce the product to desired size.
 2. Theapparatus of claim 1 including control means responsive to the dimensiondetermining means and operable to move the line-type cutter to effectcutting product along said predetermined lines.
 3. The apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein the dimension determining means includes means on theframe for providing a shadow line extending transversely of the conveyormeans for movement of product thereacross, camera means for scanningsaid shadow line, and computer means connected to said camera means andoperable in accordance with a computer program to effect movement of theline-type cutter along said predetermined lines.
 4. The apparatus ofclaim 1 for cutting food product, wherein the dimension determiningmeans includes means for determining the dimensions of an undesirablearea of the food product moving on the conveyor means, and cutters areoperable to cut along the dimensions of the undesirable area.
 5. Theapparatus of claim 1 including fluid pressure power means on the frameengaging one of the line-type cutters and operable to move the cutter topredetermined fixed positions intermediate the sides of the conveyormeans, to effect cutting of a moving product on a line parallel to thedirection of movement of the conveyor means.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1including fluid pressure power means on the frame engaging one of theline-type cutters and operable to move the cutter at a rate of speedrelative to the rate of speed of the moving conveyor means to effectcutting of a moving product on a line substantially perpendicular to thedirection of movement of the conveyor means.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1including fluid pressure power means on the frame engaging one of theline-type cutters and operable to move the cutter at a rate of speedrelative to the rate of speed of the moving conveyor means to effectcutting of a moving product on a line that is curved with respect to thedirection of movement of the conveyor means.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1including fluid pressure power means on the frame engaging one of theline-type cutters and operable to move the cutter at a rate of speedrelative to the rate of speed of the moving conveyor means to effectcutting of a moving product on a line obliquely with respect to thedirection of movement of the conveyor means.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1including an elongated flexible ribbon attached at one end to the cutterand extending in the downstream direction of movement of the conveyormeans, and a laterally widened plow member secured to the downstream endof the ribbon and fixed to the frame intermediate the sides of theconveyor means, the ribbon and plow member effecting separation of thecut pieces of products to laterally spaced positions on the conveyormeans.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the elongated conveyor meansincludes a plurality of movable endless conveyor belts spaced apart inthe longitudinal direction of movement of the conveyor belts, the spacebetween adjacent conveyor belts forming a narrow gap registering withone of the line-type cutters.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein theline-type cutter is a high pressure water jet cutter.
 12. The apparatusof claim 11 wherein the high pressure water jet cutter includes anorifice member communicating with a source of high pressure water, acarriage member mounting the orifice member for movement transversely ofthe conveyor means, and fluid pressure power means interengaging thecarriage member and frame for moving the carriage member.
 13. Theapparatus of claim 12 wherein the fluid pressure power means includes anelongated fluid pressure reciprocative piston-cylinder unit, and controlvalve means communicates the cylinder of said unit with a source offluid pressure for regulating the rate of speed of movement of thecarriage member.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the dimensiondetermining measuring means includes means on the frame for providing ashadow line extending transversely of the conveyor means for movement ofproducts thereacross, camera means for scanning said shadow line, andcomputer means connected to said camera means and operable in accordancewith a computer program to actuate said control valve means to effectmovement of the water jet cutter along said predetermined lines.
 15. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein the line-type cutter is a high pressurewater jet cutter, the conveyor means includes a wire mesh conveyorregistering with the water jet cutter, and the water jet cutter isarranged to cut through a product on the conveyor without cutting orotherwise damaging the wire mesh conveyor.
 16. The apparatus of claim 1wherein a plurality of line-type cutters are arranged in a plurality oflaterally spaced groups forming a plurality of production lanes for thesimultaneous cutting of products arranged on the conveyor means inlaterally spaced rows.
 17. The apparatus of claim 1 including aplurality of line-type cutters spaced apart laterally across theconveyor means, means supporting the plurality of cutters forsimultaneous lateral movement to vary the spacing between said cutters,and power means engaging the supporting means for moving said cutters.18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the cutter supporting meansincludes a pantograph mounted pivotally on the frame and engaging saidpower means.
 19. Apparatus for cutting food products to desired reducedsizes, comprising:(a) a frame, (b) an elongated conveyor on the framefor moving food product from an infeed end to an outfeed end, theconveyor including a plurality of movable endless conveyor belts spacedapart in the longitudinal direction of movement of the conveyor, thespace between adjacent conveyor belts forming a narrow gap, (c) means onthe frame for providing a shadow line transversely of the conveyor formovement of food product thereacross, (d) camera means for scanning saidshadow line, (e) a plurality of line-type cutters on the frame movabletransversely of the conveyor means and each having a cutting edgeregistering with an associated one of the narrow gaps in the conveyor,and (f) computer means having an input connected to said camera meansand operable in accordance with a computer program to effect movement ofthe line-type cutters along said gaps to effect cutting of the foodproduct along said predetermined lines.
 20. The apparatus of claim 19wherein each line-type cutter is a high pressure water jet cutter havingan orifice member communicating with a source of high pressure water, acarriage member mounting the orifice member for movement transversely ofthe conveyor, an elongated fluid pressure reciprocative piston-cylinderunit interengaging the frame and carriage member, and control valvemeans actuated by said computer means and communicating the cylinder ofsaid unit with a source of fluid pressure for regulating the speed ofmovement of the carriage member.